Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms. With millions of content being posted daily, having a viral post might seem out of reach.
If you’re looking to grow your presence, going viral on Instagram is one of the most effective ways to do it. But how exactly do you go viral on Instagram?
In this post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks on how to create viral content and reach millions of users. We’ll talk about what content is considered viral, how to work with the Instagram algorithm, and how to make your own post shine in the sea of content.
So, if you are ready to become the next Internet sensation, keep on reading!
What Goes Viral on Instagram?
Going viral on Instagram is about knowing your audience and creating content that resonates with them. When you understand what your target audience wants, it’s going to be much easier to go viral.
When an Instagram post goes viral, it’s because it has at least one of the following:
Strong Emotional Impact
Whether it’s something funny, touching, or even controversial, posts that make people feel something are more likely to gain viral status. Think about it—when a post makes you laugh, you’re more likely to share it with your friends. This is how viral content spreads and reaches a broader audience.
Visual Appeal
Eye-catching images or videos that stand out in the feed are more likely to grab attention. When your content looks good, people are more likely to stop scrolling, engage with it, and share it with their friends. Higher engagement rates make your content reach the Explore page much faster.
Engagement
Posts that encourage likes, comments, or shares by asking questions or starting conversations often reach more people. If more people engage with your posts, they will be shown to others, and it will be easier to get viral Instagram content.
Taps on Trends
Staying on top of trends and current events can help your post reach a wider audience. Whether it’s a popular hashtag, a viral challenge, or a song, jumping on trends can improve your Instagram game. What also helps is to let our creative voice shine and make the trend your own with a personal twist to stand out.
How to Go Viral on Instagram: Understanding the Instagram Algorithm
Understanding how the Instagram algorithm works can help your content reach more users and go viral much quicker. Unfortunately, the exact way how the algorithm works is not available. But here are strategies that can make it more likely to recommend your content to other users.
Using the Algorithm for a Viral Post
Create Engaging Content
Like other social media algorithms, the Instagram algorithm loves engaging content. You might wonder why, but the answer is quite obvious. If the Instagram post is engaging, more users will interact with it, making the platform more popular. So, here we are, talking about a win-win situation: your content gets more visibility, and Instagram gets more active users.
To boost engagement, you can ask questions in your caption or use call-to-actions like “like if you agree,” “save this post for later,” or “tag a friend.” Adding these simple prompts will increase engagement and help you get a viral Instagram post quicker.
Use Relevant Hashtags
Another thing that social media algorithms love is categorizing content, and they do that using hashtags. The right hashtags can help the audience find your content much easier, as they won’t have to sift through irrelevant posts.
When you use popular hashtags related to your niche, the chances of the post being seen by the target audience increase. Hashtags are especially important if you want to reach the other Instagram accounts that don’t follow you yet.
Post Consistently
A consistent posting schedule is key if you want to grow your Instagram overnight. Regular posting helps users remember you and shows the algorithm that you’re an active account. Knowing your posting times will make people more likely to check in and engage with your new content.
But this doesn’t mean you need to post every hour. This can overwhelm your audience, and they might not engage as much or even unfollow or mute your Instagram account. Instead, you can have an easy-to-follow schedule, whether daily or a few days a week. Below, we will talk more about how to create an effective posting schedule.
How to Go Viral on Instagram: Creating a Viral Instagram Post
Now, let’s get to the fun part: how to go viral on Instagram.
There are many strategies that can help you have an Instagram feed full of viral posts. What is important is to find the ones that fit your content and audience preferences.
Today, we will discuss some of the most popular strategies used by both small and big content creators. So, let’s start talking about how to go viral on Instagram.
Create High-Quality Instagram Content
To go viral on Instagram, you need high-quality and engaging content. User-generated content that is clear, visually appealing, and engaging has more chance of gaining viral status. That is because it will catch the eye of more users, creating a snowball effect. As your content reaches more users, it will become more popular, increasing your engagement and virality.
For example, if your niche is cooking, you can post a video of one of your recipes. To check all the boxes of creating viral content, focus on filming the preparation in a satisfying and informative way. You should use good lighting to highlight the ingredients and make the colors pop on the screen. Also, break down the recipe into steps and use close-up shots to emphasize the textures and techniques. In the end, you can use the caption to make the audience comment on your video, further improving its engagement.
Who went viral because they create high-quality content:
- Humans of New York (@humansofny) – Storytelling/Photography
- Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty) – Beauty/Makeup
- Laura Ramoso (@lau_ramoso) – Sketches/Comedy
Know your audience
It’s important to understand who your audience is and what they are interested in. To do that, the first thing you need to do is choose a niche that interests you or is popular. This will help you understand what the audience expects from content in that specific niche. Understanding audience demographics is also important, as it lets you create content that resonates with them.
If your audience is young, you can focus your content on trends, memes, and popular music. If they are more professional and serious, infographics, industry insights, or career advice might be more effective. To better understand your audience, you can see the content under Instagram hashtags that is relevant to your niche.
Who went viral because they know their audience:
- Chiara Ferragni (@chiaraferragni) – Fashion/Style
- Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee) – Business/Entrepreneurship
- Liza Koshy (@lizakoshy) – Comedy/Entertainment
Build a Brand and Personality
Your Instagram account should reflect a consistent brand and personality. That is because a strong brand personality makes your content memorable and more likely to be shared. This is especially important for new followers who see your account for the first time. After all, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
You can build your image using successful elements such as:
- Defining brand identity: Clearly define what your brand represents. Is it playful and fun, serious and informative, or chic and stylish?
- Having a consistent visual style: Use a consistent look and feel for your posts through a specific color palette, filter, or style of photography.
- Using a unique brand voice: This is valid for both image and video content. Whether your tone is casual, professional, or friendly, it should be consistent across all your posts.
Who went viral because they built a brand and personality:
- Kylie Jenner (@kyliejenner) – Beauty/Fashion
- Dan Bilzerian (@danbilzerian) – Lifestyle/Entertainment
- Zach King (@zachking) – Video/Entertainment
Hop on Trends
Focusing on trends is one of the most effective ways to boost your content’s visibility on Instagram. The name says it all – if it’s trending, people want to see it. Trends have an audience that is actively searching, engaging, and sharing them. To go viral on Instagram, you can use what is already working and bringing in millions of users.
This doesn’t mean you need to jump on every trend. Instead, focus on those that fit your brand and are valuable to your audience. For example, if you post career advice content, it makes no sense to post about the latest trending kitchen gadgets. Engaging with trends that fit your image will make your content more entertaining and help you go viral quickly.
Who went viral because they hoped on trends:
- Brittany Xavier (@brittanyxavier) – Fashion/Lifestyle
- Dude With Sign (@dudewithsign) – Comedy/Memes
- Megan Thee Stallion (@theestallion) – Music/Entertainment
Engage With Your Audience and Other Creators
Engaging with your audience and other creators builds a strong and loyal following on Instagram. That is because the more you engage, the more connected your followers feel to you and your content. This makes them more inclined to interact with your content, growing your engagement and presence.
To grow on social media and go viral, you don’t have to wait for others to engage with your posts. Taking the first steps and engaging with your audience and other creators helps you build momentum for your content. Here’s how you can interact with other posts and users:
- respond to comments and direct messages;
- show behind-the-scenes stuff;
- ask for feedback and opinions;
- create interactive Instagram stories;
- collaborate with other creators;
- like, comment, and share competitors posts;
- host contests and giveaways.
Who went viral because they engage with the community:
- The Bucket List Family (@thebucketlistfamily) – Travel/Family
- Shameless Maya (@mayasworld) – Personal Development/Beauty
- Tank Sinatra (@tank.sinatra) – Memes/Comedy
Use Instagram Analytics
Instagram Analytics is a tool that offers insights into how your content is performing. Using analytics, you can gain valuable insights that can help you understand your audience better, track your posts, and improve your content strategy.
With Instagram analytics, you can see which content gets the most interactions and who interacts with it. This helps you build a powerful growth strategy that aligns with your audience’s preferences. Also, it is important to check this data often, as the trends might change, and your current strategy might not work anymore.
Who went viral because they use Instagram analytics:
- Alexandra Gater (@alexandragater) – Home Decor/DIY
- Jera Bean (@jera.bean) – Content Strategy
- Kris Jenner (@krisjenner) – Entertainment/Personal Branding
Create Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels are a great way to boost your visibility and reach new audiences. These engaging videos are designed to capture attention quickly, so it’s important to keep them short. For a better reach, you can also use popular music or sounds, and base the Reel on a new content trend. Also, adding captions can make your Reels more accessible and engaging.
To make your Instagram Reel stand out, you can use editing tools and effects. This will make the short video seem professional which can make the audience engage more with it. And, if you want the Reel to reach the right audience, use relevant and popular hashtags and engaging captions.
Who went viral because they create Instagram Reels:
- Mikaela Pascal (@mikaelapascal) – Comedy/Entertainment
- Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown) – Food/Wellness
- Chloe Ting (@chloe_t) – Fitness/Health
Master the Caption Game
Instagram captions are a powerful tool for adding context, showing your brand’s image, and improving engagement. Posts that go viral on Instagram usually have an engaging and informative caption and use call-to-actions to engage the users with the post. Adding interactive elements in the caption, such as questions or polls, makes the users comment on your post, improving its reach and ranking.
You can master the caption game with just a few tweaks. Here’s how to go viral on Instagram using captions:
- Start with a Strong Hook: The first words of your caption need to grab the user’s attention. Instagram cuts off captions in the feed, so start with something that makes users want to click “more” to read the rest.
- Include a Call to Action (CTA): Encourage your audience to interact with your post by including a clear call to action. Ask them to comment, share their thoughts, tag a friend, or visit a link in your bio.
- Use Emojis and Line Breaks: Emojis can add personality and visual interest to your captions. Using line breaks can make longer captions easier to read by creating clear, digestible sections.
- Add Trending Hashtags: Hashtags are great for expanding your reach, but they should be used strategically. Incorporate a mix of popular and niche-specific hashtags that relate to your content.
Who went viral because they have interesting post captions:
- Chrissy Teigen (@chrissyteigen) – Lifestyle/Celebrity
- Celeste Barber (@celestebarber) – Comedy/Parody
- Betches (@betches) – Comedy/Meme
How to Go Viral on Instagram: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What content goes viral on Instagram?
Viral content on Instagram usually triggers strong emotions, is visually appealing, and taps into trends or relatable topics.
2. How many followers do I need to go viral?
You don’t need many followers to go viral; even a small account can go viral if the content is high-quality and relatable.
3. Does the algorithm make posts go viral?
Yes, the algorithm boosts posts that quickly get lots of engagement, increasing their chances of going viral.
4. Should I post Instagram reels?
Yes, Instagram Reels are highly shareable and often prioritized by the algorithm, making them great for going viral.
5. Does Instagram pay if I post viral content?
Instagram doesn’t directly pay for viral content, but it can lead to monetization opportunities like brand deals.
6. Can Instagram stories go viral?
Instagram Stories don’t typically go viral due to their 24-hour lifespan, but they can still reach a wide audience quickly.
7. How do I use relevant keywords for my content?
Use relevant keywords in your captions, hashtags, and bio to help your content get discovered by people searching for those topics.
8. Why do other people’s posts go viral and mine don’t?
Other posts might go viral because they resonate more with the audience, tap into trends, or get better initial engagement, which boosts them in the algorithm.1.
Key Takeaways
- Content that has a strong emotional impact, is visually appealing, and encourages interactions is more likely to go viral on Instagram.
- Going viral can lead to increased followers, brand reach, and monetization opportunities.
- Understanding and using the algorithm is how most Instagram posts go viral.
- Timing your posts and using analytics can significantly improve your chances of viral success.
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